Building a pontoon boat can appear to be a daunting task, but it will be worth it in the long run with the savings you will endure. With a little help from local yards, some elbow grease and some creativity, this job can be done and the boat in the end will have your name written all over it. Read below to figure out how.
Step 1: Figure out your design, using reasonable yet practical requirements. Do not under- or overbuild. Also find a good place for building because you will have to safely dock it, with the right trailer for hauling and a vehicle to pull it.
Step 2: Your vessel should be seaworthy. Keep flotation in mind because you do not want a sinking boat. Some scrap yards offer large pipes, plastic drums and tanks. The drop tanks are a good idea and are rust resistant as well as being equipped with material that gives them a sturdy structure.
Step 3: Select your framing material. A suitable idea would be PVC water pipe as it is accessible. Framing generally will have 2 x 4 pine lumber. Your boat will be about eight feet wide and 16 feet long, roughly, and these estimates can be changed to fit your needs.
Step 4: You will need to lay two sections of foot-diameter PVC drain pipe parallel on a flat surface. The ends should be capped and sealed for the purpose of keeping water out. Cut the pine boards (eight feet long) to seven feet and nine inches, and lay them on the length of your pipe on 24-inch centers.
Step 5: Next, nail a band to the ends of the created joists, using a 2 x 4 treated board that is 16 feet long on each side. This will be the vessel’s support frame. Attach a 21-inch block of treated 2 x 4 between the joists to nail them. You will use self-drilling, coarse-thread 2.5-inch, hex-head tech screws to do this. Screw or “toenail” the joists.
Step 6: Lay a one-inch wide, 16 gauge galvanized strap across the top of the deck boards. It should be positioned diagonally and run from corner to corner in each direction. This will serve as the bracing keeping the deck square as you finish building your boat.
Step 7: Measure the deck across opposite corners and rack it. Your measurements should be equal at the diagonal points.
Step 8: Begin deck installation, using treated lumber. Decide whether the boat will need a shelter for overnight trips.
Tips
- Always keep safety in mind when constructing your boat. Think of small children and elderly, fragile people who might be using the boat.
Items Needed
- Boat Design
- PVC pipe
- 2 x 4 pine lumber
- Coarse thread tech screws
- Galvanized strap
- Measuring tape